Third DCF employee fired in case of missing Fitchburg boy

Monday

Dec 30, 2013 at 4:50 PMDec 30, 2013 at 8:40 PM

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

BOSTON — A third employee of the Department of Children and Families has been fired in the wake of investigations into a missing 5-year-old Fitchburg boy and state officials have concluded that numerous failings and misconduct by staff contributed to the disappearance.

DCF Commissioner Olga Roche on Monday issued the agency's final report on the case of Jeremiah Oliver, whose disappearance since September is being treated as a possible homicide.

The details, which she called troubling and sad, were disclosed as the mother and her boyfriend remain in custody facing abuse charges, and family members and friends continue searching for the boy. The state is also caring for the boy's 9-year-old brother and 7-year-old sister.

Ms. Roche said the investigation revealed that the social worker handling the family's case repeatedly failed to conduct required monthly checks on the boy and his family in their home in the months leading up to his disappearance. Moreover, they found the social worker's supervisor failed to address the lack of home visits or ensure the agency followed up on three 51A child abuse reports in June concerning the three children in the home.

At the same time, the agency concluded, the supervisor was filing reports indicating the family's apartment was clean and suitable, even though the social worker had not visited the home. Based on interviews conducted for the investigation, officials said, "It is evident that the supervisor was proven to be untruthful" regarding reports on the condition of the family's home.

The agency had terminated the social worker and supervisor following an initial review of the case earlier this month. Ms. Roche said Monday the DCF area program manager for the North Central region has also now been fired, "because she never ensured there was any follow-up from the supervisor" regarding the multiple abuse reports in the home and for failing to take steps to address the lack of home visits.

"Our investigation showed that the individuals charged with the care of the Oliver family failed to meet their responsibilities," Ms. Roche said. While the family received initial services from DCF going back to 2011, she said, once they moved to Fitchburg and the case was referred to that North Central DCF office in January 2013, its staff missed many opportunities to engage the family.

"The absence of home visits to assess the safety of the children was a serious failure," Ms. Roche said. "It is my belief that the failure and misconduct of the staff involved in this case contributed to this tragedy."

Another staffer, the area intake manager responsible for making decisions on 51A child abuse reports, also missed opportunities to ensure appropriate follow-up with the family and was given a three-day suspension without pay and has been removed from the intake decision-making process.

State officials said they are instituting systematic improvements based on the findings.

In a statement released Monday afternoon by the SEIU Local 509, the union that represents social workers, spokesman Jason A. Stephany voiced support for the actions.

"From day one, front-line social workers throughout the Department of Children & Families have been clear in their call for accountability in the case of Jeremiah Oliver," he said. "Following the investigation, DCF has taken steps to ensure those who bear responsibility in this tragedy are held accountable — including the overloaded caseworkers involved and the Department administrators who ignored red flags.

Mr. Stephany also praised DCF's implementation of new policies and procedures to prevent similar cases in the future and to address the "caseload crisis."

"We will continue to work with the Administration to fulfill these commitments and bring caseloads at the Department of Children & Families down to the manageable levels needed to keep at-risk children safe."

Gov. Deval L. Patrick said the report provides some answers and the DCF's "failure to appropriately monitor the family and respond to multiple warning signs is simply unacceptable."

"While the work of the vast majority of the people who work at DCF is exemplary, the failure of certain staff in this case casts a long and unfortunate shadow," Mr. Patrick said. He commended Commissioner Roche, who took over the agency in October, for her accountability and transparency in the case.

"I know that she and her team take seriously their responsibility for keeping children safe, and that the Oliver case weighs heavily on them," the governor said. "For now, finding Jeremiah and caring for his siblings remain paramount. I await further updates from law enforcement as well as the Child Advocate's review of this case."

Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr called for an independent review of the case, saying the report uncovered more troubling details.

“First a system that tolerated falsified reports and lies needs to be reviewed independently to ensure that there are no other children who are vulnerable due to lack of home visits or other forms of oversight,” the Gloucester Republican said in a statement.

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